INNOVATION IN THE QUEBEC FURNITURE SECTOR

Project -  Feasibility study for a Centre de soutien à l ' innovation dans le secteur du meuble (CSIM) (Centre for Innovation in the Furniture Sector)
Client -  Centre d'information et de valorisation du secteur du meuble de la Mauricie (CIVAM) and Association des fabricants de meubles du Québec / Quebec Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMQ)

Description - The Centre d'information et de valorisation du secteur du meuble de la Mauricie (CIVAM) and the Quebec Furniture Manufacturers Association (AFMQ) commissioned a team of university researchers and private sector analysts, including Science-Metrix, to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of a Centre de soutien à l'innovation dans le secteur du meuble (CSIM – a Centre for Innovation in the Furniture Sector). CIVAM and AFMQ’s initiative is part of the ACCORD program, in which the furniture sector has been selected as one of five niches for development in the regional development agreement signed by Mauricie and the Société générale de financement (SGF).

This project was directed by Michel Trépanier (INRS-UCS/INRPME) in collaboration with Science-Metrix and Technopole Vallée du Saint-Maurice. It consisted of the following steps:

1. Assessing the interest of those involved in the sector for a support centre for innovation;

2. Assessing the state of existing support services and the needs of furniture sector companies (manufacturers and subcontractors);

3. Identifying and evaluating several modes of organization and operation of such a centre, and defining its mission, orientations, structure, modes of operation and business plan;

4. Analyzing the technical and economic feasibility of a centre as previously defined.

The report first gives an overview of the Quebec furniture industry. It then presents some of the services that foreign support centres offer to the furniture industry. The supply of support services for the furniture industry in Quebec is analyzed, as are the needs of the sector’s members and their level of interest in a centre for innovation. The report also evaluates the possible organization of such a centre and defines its mission, orientations, structure, modes of operation and business plan. It presents a technical and economic feasibility analysis of the centre as previously defined. Finally, the report presents recommendations related to the project.

STUDY REPORT

Trépanier M., Archambault É. and Vécrin L. 2004.
Étude de faisabilité pour la mise sur pied d'un Centre de soutien à l'innovation dans le secteur du meuble (CSIM). Prepared for the CIVAM and AFMQ by INRS-UCS/IRPME, Science-Metrix and Technopole Vallée du Saint-Maurice, 69 pages.
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